Jacaylbaro Posted June 7, 2007 NAIROBI, 7 June 2007 (IRIN) - More than 600 cases of cholera, including about eight deaths, have been reported in the Togdheer area of Somalia's self-declared autonomous region of Somaliland and its capital, Hargeisa, since mid-May, a humanitarian organisation said. Aid agencies were working with local health authorities to decontaminate water sources and improve sanitation, according to N. Paranietharan, health coordinator with the United Nations World Health Organization's (WHO) Somalia office. WHO and the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) have delivered treatment supplies to the affected areas, and a health sensitisation campaign was under way, he said. "Things are under control," he added. Save the Children [...UK?], which is also involved in efforts to stem the spread of cholera, said up to 70,000 people could be at risk if the disease was not contained quickly. "Cholera spreads very quickly and can cause rapid, severe dehydration which is very difficult to control," Save the Children's Emergency Health Adviser, Elizabeth Berryman, said in a statement. "Children are particularly vulnerable to dehydration and severe cases of cholera are difficult to treat in children," she said. Cholera is spread through contaminated food and water. Control measures being implemented include setting up oral rehydration centres, providing chlorine to treat contaminated water sources, such as shallow wells, and distributing oral rehydration salts to households. Communities were also being schooled in essential public health measures, including hand-washing, boiling of drinking water and basic food hygiene. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
N.O.R.F Posted June 7, 2007 I know and very sad to hear. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jacaylbaro Posted June 7, 2007 It is not only somaliland ,,, this is even in Djibouti and Afar region of Ethiopia. They predict it'll reach the whole region ,,,, Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
